Prevalence of tetracycline and rabies virus antibody in raccoons, skunks, and foxes following aerial distribution of V-RG baits to control raccoon rabies in Ontario, Canada.
More than 3.6 million baits containing a recombinant vaccinia virus-rabies glycoprotein (V-RG) oral rabies vaccine were aerially or hand-distributed during 1999-2006 in an approximate 4,000-9,000 km(2) area of eastern Ontario, Canada, as part of a multitactic approach to control the raccoon variant of rabies. The efficacy of the program was assessed through the collection and testing of > 6,900 animals for bait acceptance and rabies virus-specific antibodies. Raccoon acceptance of rabies vaccine baits was significantly greater (71-83% ) in areas baited at a density of 150 baits/km(2) compared to areas baited at 75 baits/km(2) (26-58% ), and more raccoons consumed vaccine baits in areas baited with a flight line spacing of 0.75 km (45.3% [321/708]) than with a spacing of 1.5 km (33.8% [108/320]). In addition, greater numbers of raccoons consumed vaccine baits during a drop in September (52.7% [213/404]) as opposed to a June bait drop (34.6% [216/624]). Seropositivity rates for raccoons ranged between 7% and 28% in areas baited at 75/km(2) and 10% to 27% in areas baited at 150/km(2) with statistical differences varying among years and treatments. The last case of raccoon-variant rabies reported in Ontario was in September 2005. The control of raccoon rabies in Ontario has resulted in an estimated $6M to $10 M Cdn annual savings in rabies-associated costs.
Rosatte
R
R
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife Research and Development Section, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada. rick.rosatte@ontario.ca
Allan
M
M
Bachmann
P
P
Sobey
K
K
Donovan
D
D
Davies
J C
JC
Silver
A
A
Bennett
K
K
Brown
L
L
Stevenson
B
B
Buchanan
T
T
Bruce
L
L
Wandeler
A
A
Fehlner-Gardiner
C
C
Beresford
A
A
Beath
A
A
Escobar
M
M
Maki
J
J
Schumacher
C
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000821:virology*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology; D011821:Raccoons / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D013752:Tetracycline